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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Writing Tuesday

Over on my other blog, Living the Complicated Simple Life, I did a little catch-up so folks would know where I was - what I was up to with chickens and kids and mortgages and so on. I think I will do a similar catch-up here.
Like my esteemed collegue (only she's naked) the Watery Tart, I have been discombobulated of late. I'm easily distracted and finding lots to distract me. It was lots of fun doing the last two blogfests but it took up time that perhaps could have been more wisely spent. But fie on those thoughts because, as Maggie Muggins was wont to say to Mr. McGarity 'I wonder what tomorrow will bring'. Oh, that's not it - it was what Scarlett O'Hara would say, "fiddle-de-dee, tomorrow is another day!" that truly sums up my state of mind.

So I will gather my chickens and parade them in front of you now.

1. True - it was great to get feedback on the first 250 words which I thought were polished beyond all belief. Now I know I still have ages to go. Thanks a bunch! No really, it was tremendously helpful. My plan with the manuscript is to have it as good as I can get it by the end of this month (yes 8 days) and give it to the woman who is going to do a big edit on it. I am now trying to find a cottage to go to for four days so I can do this. And a laptop.
When it has gone to be edited I will be busy with incorporating the edits as they are forwarded to me and developing a shit hot query letter and synopsis (several actually) and a list of where I want to send it.

2. The Rock Walker - is away at a contest right now. \ I will find out May 20th if it has made it to a short-list. In readying the first 2 thousand words for the contest, I undid the structure. That means I have another honking huge revision to do on it. I will await the results of the contest (my oh my but I'm cocky) before getting at that. And I will also wait until I have my first chapter edits done of True and the first query letters out before going back at it.

3. Earth Bound - it will simply have to wait until the other two are out the door looking for homes. I am more than half done it but it is a tangly mess of a thing. So...

4. Feckless - my first finished novel. I miss it. I want back at it. I will visit it and decide.

5. She - The Women's Opera - yes. A new project. I'll tell you about it later. I'm unsure of what it is exactly but it is there - awaiting. It will require many others. No men. All women. An opera. That's all I know.

There, now you have it. And so do I. Thanks for being a listening board. How are your own plans shaping up?
Do any of you go on writing retreats?

First of all, thanks so much for your comment the other day (last week...) I really appreciate it!

Sounds like you've got some great projects in the works! Best of luck on the edits and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you contest resutls to come back with GREAT news :D Oh, and good luck with the opera. How cool is that?!?!

As for my projects, as soon as I can get a hold on this school thing, I'm opening myself up to a whack of revisions in April. My goal: to get that gosh darn novel submission ready in time for summer.

Yes, your projects sound fab! So interested in that mysterious ephemeral all women's opera. And your attitude and your super intensive writing retreat sound superb as well. I have never done a retreat solely on my own, without classes and whatnot. Unless you count everyday, which in its way has got to be a sort of retreat. Good luck. Looking forward to hearing how it went.

Joanne - it is lovely to go on a writing retreat. I've done it several times both self-directed and under the guidance of a leader. At this stage I just need a cottage with nobody bugging me. Gwen (my tuesday writing partner) and I work well when we go together also.Tartlette- back at ya, goilfriend.Jen - keep at it and you will get there! And I'll keep you up to date on FEMOPERA plans!Tina - you haven't?!!! You must. It is great but when I can't afford the $ or time - I make it happen at home - just hard with kids and bills and husbands and dogs...

My plans? Right now my ´life´ is in someone else´s hands; I sent off a query yesterday. Nerve-wrecking; still it feels good that I pulled myself together and got it out of the house right in the middle of a tough working month.

I don´t really go on writing retreats, but whenever I have a week off and we go to our cottage, it feels like a retreat. I love being there, and life feels less complicated.

Would love a retreat, right now, this minute!:) I'm re-structuring my novel, it has 3 points of view that need to weave with balance..ugh! it's giving me the shivers! I've even resorted to graphs!(which a re a right muddle!) So would love the space and silence! Well done on juggling so much, so many projects, I think youre brilliant! And inspiring! 8 more days - ditto! Hope you get away!